When former state GOP chairman Tom Fetzer gave his farewell speech over the weekend, he did more than just talk about all the Republican victories last year.
He called on the Republican leaders to spend less time attacking each other.
Before running for chairman two years ago, Fetzer said he had avoided state GOP politics viewing it as “mean, and nasty and petty.” But he said he decided to run last time, in part, because he felt called to do so.
But he said it was not easy.
“When I ran for chairman I was not a political virgin,” Fetzer told the state Republican Executive committee meeting in Raleigh over the weekend.
“I had worked in Jesse Helms' campaigns which tended to be knock-down, dragged out affairs. I had run for mayor of Raleigh in a city that had never elected a Republican. The campaign for chairman was the most miserable experience I've ever encountered. Things were said about me that I could not believe – vicious lies. I spent $20,000 defending my name in a lawsuit.”
Fetzer said that while politics is important, people need to keep things in perspective. He said getting married and having a child has helped him personally get a better perspective on things.
He also had some advice for the new chairman.
“If I could give you one piece of advice, please ignore the idiot bloggers,” Fetzer said. “I don't know those these people are and why they have time to do this stuff. But they need to get a life.”
That brought cheers from the members of the state GOP Executive Committee.
Comments
The real idiots
January 19, 2011 - 6:29pm — GOTVnoware the entities that hire Tom Fetzer and they have enough time on their hands to do some research. See how many clients he had at Fetzer Stephens and survey them to see if they got anything for their payments. Ask Bill Graham, a former large client, if he was satisfied. The real idiots may be the "new" clients who think Tom Fetzer can influence anything at all the NC General Assembly. Survey some republican legislators and you will find what many of us already know - most do not care for him or think he has any value. So, Tom, while you think we are idiots, I don't have to tell you who the real idiot is.
In defense of idiot bloggers
January 19, 2011 - 12:45pm — tomyknowledgeThe land owned us before we owned the land.
We were idiots before we became bloggers. Do not be too hard on us idiot bloggers. We have found refuge on the net. No one values our opinion in person so we broadcast over the net. Idiot bloggers are known throughout the community in which we live so we have to go off onto the net to become expert idiot bloggers. If anyone would listen to us at the coffee shop we would not make inane comments here but everyone leaves the table when we sit down. Give us idiot bloggers a break. The only reason we make comments is because we are lonely. No one loves us. Show some mercy.
Idiot Bloggers?
January 19, 2011 - 9:30am — HotBabe1Idiot bloggers, eh Tom? Take a look at the comments made by your "polite" GOP colleagues. They appear to be much more savage and personal than those made by the liberals! I, too, am sick and tired of the viciousness and divisiveness of our current political atmosphere. Will you please tell your conservative colleagues to knock it off?!!
Good riddance to bad rubbish
January 19, 2011 - 8:51am — MalleusMaleficarumTom Fetzer did absolutely nothing to help the people of North Carolina, and I doubt if he even realizes it. Fetzer is probably incapable of understanding what the people of North Carolina need from their government.
Free Speech and Tom's Dress Code
January 18, 2011 - 7:01pm — ConMaxI guess all those idiot Republican Bloggers were really Communist Crossdressing Bloggers in Drag from Chapel Hill........
I guess
January 18, 2011 - 6:07pm — GOTVnowThe bloggers out here have enough time on their hand to expose misrepresentations of people like Tom Fetzer. He shut down one consulting firm cause he was too old, now he has a new one, after shopping law firms and figuring out his work ethic could not stand the test. The wife and child sure are excuses, I mean reasons, for all kinds of things now. After every phrase, it is about his wife and child, so again, why is he going to work in Raleigh and why is the deed to his modest house in Wilmington in his name along with someone other than his wife.
Grammar Police follow-up
January 18, 2011 - 5:41pm — scharrisonAnd you may want to play the tape again to figure out if he said "those" or "these".
I'm sure Rob appreciates our assistance...
Grammar police
January 18, 2011 - 2:36pm — captsfufpNot to be a blogger with too much time on my hands, but: I think you mean "advice" not "advise" in the 3rd to last paragraph.